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Copyright 2001. The Lazy 'C' - All rights reserved.
history
That the flag of North Carolina shall consist of a blue union, containing in the centre thereof a white star with the letter N in gilt on the left and the letter C in gilt on the right of said star, the circle containing the same to be one-third the width of the union. The fly of the flag shall consist of two equally proportioned bars; the upper bar to be red, the lower bar to be white; that the length of the bars horizontally shall be equal to the perpendicular length of the union, and the total length of the flag shall be one-third more than its width. That above the star in the centre of the union there shall be a gilt scroll in semi-circular form, containing in black letters this inscription "May 20th, 1775," and that below the star there shall be a similar scroll containing in black letters the inscription: "April 12th, 1776."
Nickname: The Tar Heel State.
Capital: Raleigh.
Constitution: The 12th State.
Statehood: November 21st 1789.
Motto: Esse Quam Videri - To be rather than to seem
History:
About 35,000 American Indians, belonging to about 30 tribes, lived in the North Carolina region when Europeans first arrived in the 1500's. In 1585 and 1587, the English established on Roanoke Island their first American colonies. The first settlement was abandoned after a year. The second settlement mysteriously vanished, and it came to be called the Lost Colony.
During the late 1600's and early 1700's, many settlers were attracted to the region. The settlers battled with the Indians, and pirates terrorized North Carolina's coastline.
Many North Carolinians sympathized with the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865), even though the state seceded (withdrew) on May 20, 1861. North Carolina rejoined the Union on June 25, 1868.
The state's industries developed at a tremendous rate during the early 1900's. In 1956, three universities combined their resources to form the North Carolina Research Triangle Park, a research centre that serves industry.
In 1960, four black students remained seated at a restaurant in Greensboro after they were refused service. Their action sparked a wave of demonstrations in the South.
North Carolina's traditional industries faced an uncertain future in the 1990's. Health concerns about smoking threatened the tobacco industry. Many textile mills found it difficult to compete with foreign competitors who offered low prices.
Bird:
The Cardinal was selected by popular choice as our State Bird on March 4, 1943. The Cardinal is sometimes called the Winter Redbird because it is most noticeable during the winter when it is the only "redbird" present. A year-round resident of North Carolina, the Cardinal is one of the most common birds in our gardens, meadows, and woodlands. The male Cardinal is red all over, except for the area of its throat and the region around its bill which is black; it is about the size of a Catbird only with a longer tail. The head is conspicuously crested and the large stout bill is red. The female is much duller in colour with the red confined mostly to the crest, wings, and tail. This difference in colouring is common among many birds. Since it is the female that sits on the nest, her colouring must blend more with her natural surroundings to protect her eggs and young from predators. There are no seasonal changes in her plumage.
The Cardinal is a fine singer, and what is unusual is that the female sings as beautifully as the male. The male generally monopolizes the art of song in the bird world.
The nest of the Cardinal is rather an untidy affair built of weed stems, grass and similar materials in low shrubs, small trees or bunches of briars, generally not over four feet above the ground. The usual number of eggs set is three in this State and four further North. Possibly the Cardinal raises an extra brood down here to make up the difference, or possibly the population is more easily maintained here by the more moderate winters compared to the colder North.
The Cardinal is by nature a seed eater, but he does not dislike small fruits and insects.
Economy:
Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans.
Industry: Tobacco products, textile goods, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, tourism.
Flower:
The General Assembly of 1941 designated the dogwood as the State Flower.
The Dogwood is one of the most prevalent trees in our State and can be found in all parts of the State from the mountains to the coast. Its blossoms, which appear in early spring and continue on into summer, are most often found in white, although shades of pink (red) are not uncommon.
Motto:
The General Assembly of 1893 (chapter 145) adopted the words "Esse Quam Videri" as the State's motto and directed that these words with the date "20 May, 1775," be placed with our Coat of Arms upon the Great Seal of the State.
The words "Esse Quam Videri" mean "to be rather than to seem." Nearly every State has adopted a motto, generally in Latin. The reason for mottoes being in Latin is that the Latin language is far more condensed and terse than the English. The three words, "Esse Quam Videri," require at least six English words to express the same idea.
Curiosity has been aroused to learn the origin of our State motto. It is found in Cicero's essay on Friendship (Cicero de Amnicitia, Chapter 26).
It is somewhat unique that until the act of 1893 the sovereign State of North Carolina had no motto since its declaration of independence. It was one of the few states which did not have a motto and the only one of the original thirteen without one.
Nickname:
In 1629, King Charles I of England "erected into a province," all the land from Albemarle Sound on the north to the St. John's River on the south, which he directed should be called Carolina. The word Carolina is from the word Carolus, the Latin form of Charles.
When Carolina was divided in 1710, the southern part was called South Carolina and the northern, or older settlement, North Carolina. From this came the nickname the "Old North State." Historians have recorded that the principle products during the early history of North Carolina were "tar, pitch, and turpentine." It was during one of the fiercest battles of the War Between the States, so the story goes, that the column supporting the North Carolina troops was driven from the field. After the battle the North Carolinians, who had successfully fought it out alone, were greeted from the passing derelict regiment with the question: "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" Quick as a flash came the answer: "No, not a bit, old Jeff's bought it all up." "Is that so; what is he going to do with it?" was asked. "He's going to put on you-un's heels to make you stick better in the next fight." Creecy relates that General Lee, upon hearing of the incident, said: "God bless the Tar Heel boys," and from that they took the name (Adapted from Grandfather Tales of North Carolina by R.B. Creecy and Histories of North Carolina Regiments, Vol. III, by Walter Clark).
Origin of state's name:
Taken from "Carolus," the Latin word for Charles and named after England's King Charles I.
Seal:
The State Seal of North Carolina has seen many changes since its origins in 1663.
Tree:
The long leaf pine was officially designated as the State Tree by the General Assembly of 1963.
The pine is the most common of the trees found in North Carolina, as well as the most important one in the history of our State. During the Colonial and early Statehood periods, the pine was a vital part of the economy of North Carolina. From it came many of the "naval stores" - resin, turpentine, and timber - needed by merchants and the navy for their ships. The pine has continued to supply North Carolina with many important wood products, particularly in the building industry.
About 35,000 American Indians, belonging to about 30 tribes, lived in the North Carolina region when Europeans first arrived in the 1500's. In 1585 and 1587, the English established on Roanoke Island their first American colonies. The first settlement was abandoned after a year. The second settlement mysteriously vanished, and it came to be called the Lost Colony.
During the late 1600's and early 1700's, many settlers were attracted to the region. The settlers battled with the Indians, and pirates terrorized North Carolina's coastline.
Many North Carolinians sympathized with the Union during the American Civil War (1861-1865), even though the state seceded (withdrew) on May 20, 1861. North Carolina rejoined the Union on June 25, 1868.
The state's industries developed at a tremendous rate during the early 1900's. In 1956, three universities combined their resources to form the North Carolina Research Triangle Park, a research centre that serves industry.
In 1960, four black students remained seated at a restaurant in Greensboro after they were refused service. Their action sparked a wave of demonstrations in the South.
North Carolina's traditional industries faced an uncertain future in the 1990's. Health concerns about smoking threatened the tobacco industry. Many textile mills found it difficult to compete with foreign competitors who offered low prices.
Bird:
The Cardinal was selected by popular choice as our State Bird on March 4, 1943. The Cardinal is sometimes called the Winter Redbird because it is most noticeable during the winter when it is the only "redbird" present. A year-round resident of North Carolina, the Cardinal is one of the most common birds in our gardens, meadows, and woodlands. The male Cardinal is red all over, except for the area of its throat and the region around its bill which is black; it is about the size of a Catbird only with a longer tail. The head is conspicuously crested and the large stout bill is red. The female is much duller in colour with the red confined mostly to the crest, wings, and tail. This difference in colouring is common among many birds. Since it is the female that sits on the nest, her colouring must blend more with her natural surroundings to protect her eggs and young from predators. There are no seasonal changes in her plumage.
The Cardinal is a fine singer, and what is unusual is that the female sings as beautifully as the male. The male generally monopolizes the art of song in the bird world.
The nest of the Cardinal is rather an untidy affair built of weed stems, grass and similar materials in low shrubs, small trees or bunches of briars, generally not over four feet above the ground. The usual number of eggs set is three in this State and four further North. Possibly the Cardinal raises an extra brood down here to make up the difference, or possibly the population is more easily maintained here by the more moderate winters compared to the colder North.
The Cardinal is by nature a seed eater, but he does not dislike small fruits and insects.
Economy:
Agriculture: Poultry and eggs, tobacco, hogs, milk, nursery stock, cattle, soybeans.
Industry: Tobacco products, textile goods, chemical products, electric equipment, machinery, tourism.
Flower:
The General Assembly of 1941 designated the dogwood as the State Flower.
The Dogwood is one of the most prevalent trees in our State and can be found in all parts of the State from the mountains to the coast. Its blossoms, which appear in early spring and continue on into summer, are most often found in white, although shades of pink (red) are not uncommon.
Motto:
The General Assembly of 1893 (chapter 145) adopted the words "Esse Quam Videri" as the State's motto and directed that these words with the date "20 May, 1775," be placed with our Coat of Arms upon the Great Seal of the State.
The words "Esse Quam Videri" mean "to be rather than to seem." Nearly every State has adopted a motto, generally in Latin. The reason for mottoes being in Latin is that the Latin language is far more condensed and terse than the English. The three words, "Esse Quam Videri," require at least six English words to express the same idea.
Curiosity has been aroused to learn the origin of our State motto. It is found in Cicero's essay on Friendship (Cicero de Amnicitia, Chapter 26).
It is somewhat unique that until the act of 1893 the sovereign State of North Carolina had no motto since its declaration of independence. It was one of the few states which did not have a motto and the only one of the original thirteen without one.
Nickname:
In 1629, King Charles I of England "erected into a province," all the land from Albemarle Sound on the north to the St. John's River on the south, which he directed should be called Carolina. The word Carolina is from the word Carolus, the Latin form of Charles.
When Carolina was divided in 1710, the southern part was called South Carolina and the northern, or older settlement, North Carolina. From this came the nickname the "Old North State." Historians have recorded that the principle products during the early history of North Carolina were "tar, pitch, and turpentine." It was during one of the fiercest battles of the War Between the States, so the story goes, that the column supporting the North Carolina troops was driven from the field. After the battle the North Carolinians, who had successfully fought it out alone, were greeted from the passing derelict regiment with the question: "Any more tar down in the Old North State, boys?" Quick as a flash came the answer: "No, not a bit, old Jeff's bought it all up." "Is that so; what is he going to do with it?" was asked. "He's going to put on you-un's heels to make you stick better in the next fight." Creecy relates that General Lee, upon hearing of the incident, said: "God bless the Tar Heel boys," and from that they took the name (Adapted from Grandfather Tales of North Carolina by R.B. Creecy and Histories of North Carolina Regiments, Vol. III, by Walter Clark).
Origin of state's name:
Taken from "Carolus," the Latin word for Charles and named after England's King Charles I.
Seal:
The State Seal of North Carolina has seen many changes since its origins in 1663.
Tree:
The long leaf pine was officially designated as the State Tree by the General Assembly of 1963.
The pine is the most common of the trees found in North Carolina, as well as the most important one in the history of our State. During the Colonial and early Statehood periods, the pine was a vital part of the economy of North Carolina. From it came many of the "naval stores" - resin, turpentine, and timber - needed by merchants and the navy for their ships. The pine has continued to supply North Carolina with many important wood products, particularly in the building industry.